Riserve Naturali Regionali Punta dell'Acquabella e Ripari di Giobbe

Punta dell'Acquabella and Ripari di Giobbe protect two stretches of Ortona's Adriatic coastline. Cliffs, pebble coves and Mediterranean vegetation frame the town to the south and north respectively.

Why it matters

Both regional nature reserves were established in 2007. They preserve coastal habitats and landforms within the Costa dei Trabocchi, where the relationship between sea, cultivated hills and fishing traditions has shaped the landscape.

What to notice

At Acquabella, pine woodland gives way to scrub above a small cove. Local tradition links the name with a freshwater spring, while traces of a former trabocco recall shore-based fishing. Ripari di Giobbe has a higher coastal spur, rocky slopes and pale pebble beaches. Erosion and landslides continually alter these cliffs, making the shoreline a changing rather than static feature.

Context and history

The reserves protect coastlines that also carry signs of human use, including the former railway and fishing structures. Their designation recognised the value of this mixed natural and cultural landscape. Fire affected part of the coast in 2021, adding another episode to the environmental history of the area.